Next year will be here soon

Published: Monday, June 3, 2013 at 10:36 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, June 3, 2013 at 10:36 a.m.

The New Orleans Saints had what fans considered a down year last year.

With their coach serving a season-long suspension, the cards seemed stacked against the Black and Gold from the very start.

And when the season ended with a losing record and no playoff appearance, those same fans figured it was just a break from what has become perennial competitiveness.

Now, the time when we see whether that optimistic outlook was realistic is quickly approaching.

We have already entered June, and the Saints’ first preseason game is at home on Aug. 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Between the end of last season and now, there have been some good signs of progress.

The Saints hired Rob Ryan to serve as defensive coordinator after the team set an NFL record for yardage given up last year.

Ryan will have a tough task ahead of him, trying to restore the Saints’ defense to respectability and giving that side of the football team a good chance to complement the incredible offense that has blossomed under star quarterback Drew Brees.

The team still has Brees, of course, which means the offense should be fine.

Fans would love to see a more-effective ability to run the ball, giving Brees an even better chance to show off his strong and accurate arm.

With any luck, the team can weather the remaining months of the offseason with no distractions or injuries. The new players can be schooled on the Saints’ winning ways, and the returning veterans can embrace the new lessons they all must learn to take the Saints back to the Super Bowl.

That might seem like a tall order, but we’ve all seen within the past few years that greatness is possible with the core of players and coaches the Saints and their fans enjoy.

With Sean Payton back at the helm, the team shouldn’t suffer the same lack of leadership that seemed to plague it at times last year.

And with a new defensive coach and some new arrivals through the draft and free agency, there should be more defensive player talent as well.

The future looks bright. Fans know that. The days of having to wait until next year with no real promise of improvement are over. Next year will be here in just a few months, and it should bring with it an excellent time to revel in the Black and Gold.

The challenge now is just waiting that long. Geaux Saints!

Editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper, not of any individual.

<p>The New Orleans Saints had what fans considered a down year last year.</p><p>With their coach serving a season-long suspension, the cards seemed stacked against the Black and Gold from the very start.</p><p>And when the season ended with a losing record and no playoff appearance, those same fans figured it was just a break from what has become perennial competitiveness.</p><p>Now, the time when we see whether that optimistic outlook was realistic is quickly approaching.</p><p>We have already entered June, and the Saints' first preseason game is at home on Aug. 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs.</p><p>Between the end of last season and now, there have been some good signs of progress.</p><p>The Saints hired Rob Ryan to serve as defensive coordinator after the team set an NFL record for yardage given up last year.</p><p>Ryan will have a tough task ahead of him, trying to restore the Saints' defense to respectability and giving that side of the football team a good chance to complement the incredible offense that has blossomed under star quarterback Drew Brees.</p><p>The team still has Brees, of course, which means the offense should be fine.</p><p>Fans would love to see a more-effective ability to run the ball, giving Brees an even better chance to show off his strong and accurate arm.</p><p>With any luck, the team can weather the remaining months of the offseason with no distractions or injuries. The new players can be schooled on the Saints' winning ways, and the returning veterans can embrace the new lessons they all must learn to take the Saints back to the Super Bowl.</p><p>That might seem like a tall order, but we've all seen within the past few years that greatness is possible with the core of players and coaches the Saints and their fans enjoy.</p><p>With Sean Payton back at the helm, the team shouldn't suffer the same lack of leadership that seemed to plague it at times last year.</p><p>And with a new defensive coach and some new arrivals through the draft and free agency, there should be more defensive player talent as well.</p><p>The future looks bright. Fans know that. The days of having to wait until next year with no real promise of improvement are over. Next year will be here in just a few months, and it should bring with it an excellent time to revel in the Black and Gold.</p><p>The challenge now is just waiting that long. Geaux Saints!</p><p>Editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper, not of any individual.</p>